Chapter 31 Part Two Chapter Six Saturday Night (4)

Mr. Tomony, the pawnbroker, had just returned from a wild night in New York in a cab for two.He never set foot in the door of his own pawn shop.He had inherited the pawnshop, and with it, an able manager.Why Mr. Talmony lived in the house above the store when he was so rich, no one knew.He lived the life of a New York aristocrat in this dirty Williamsburg.According to a plasterer who visited the house, it was filled with statues, paintings and white fur rugs.Mr. Taumoney is a bachelor.No one knew where he was all week.He was also not seen leaving Saturday night.Only Francie and the police on patrol saw him come home.Francie watched him as if she were in a box at a theatre.

His tall silk hat was slanted over one ear.He tucked the silver-tipped cane under his arm, and the cane shone brightly in the light of the street lamp.He flung back his satin cloak and went to get the money.The coachman took his bill, touched the brim of his bowler hat with the butt of his whip, and shook the horse's reins.Mr. Taumony watched him drive the carriage away as if it were the last link in this happy life.He then went upstairs to the luxurious apartment. He should often go to those legendary places, such as Leysen Weber Hotel, Waldorf Hotel and so on.Francie decided to go herself someday when she had the chance.Someday, she'll cross the Williamsburg Bridge, which is only a few blocks away, into the center of New York, and see these beautiful places, take a good look from the outside.Then she would have a more accurate picture of Mr. Taumoney.

A fresh breeze blew from the sea, blowing over Brooklyn.In the far north, there were Italians living, and they raised chickens in their yards, when a cock crowed from there.As soon as the rooster crowed, the dog in the distance also barked, and Meimei's horse named Bob, who was sleeping in the stable, also neighed inquiringly. Francie loved Saturdays and didn't like to end them with sleep.It's just that the next week worries her, scares her.She stamped the memories of this Saturday into her mind.Aside from seeing the old folks waiting to buy bread, this Saturday was flawless. The rest of the week, she sleeps in her own crib at night.From the vent, she could vaguely hear the voice of a nearby family.The bride in that family is still like a child, and her husband is a truck driver, who looks like a hairy ape.The bride's voice was soft and pleading, while the man's voice was rough and fierce.Then there was a brief silence.Then he snored loudly, and the bride wept until dawn.

Francie shuddered at the thought of the cry, and put her hands over her ears involuntarily.Then she remembered that it was Saturday and she was sleeping in the front room and couldn't hear the vent.Yes, it's still Saturday, a wonderful Saturday.Monday is a long time away.There is a safe Sunday in between.Then she could think slowly of the nasturtiums in the brown bowl, and of the horses when Frank bathed them in the sun and shade.She's starting to get sleepy.She heard Johnny and Katie talking for a while in the kitchen.They are reminiscing about the past. "I was seventeen when I met you," said Katie. "I worked at Castle Breed."

"I was nineteen," Johnny said, "and I was talking to your friend Hilty O'Dell." "Yeah, she's the kind of person." Katie snorted. The wind was soft, fragrant, and warm, blowing through Francie's hair.She put her hands on the window sill and leaned her face against it.When she looked up, she could see the stars above the rental house.Before long, she fell asleep.